News published on Federal Newswire in December 2024

News from December 2024


Newark contractor fined $328K over repeated fall hazards

Federal workplace safety officials have once again cited a Newark-based construction contractor for repeated violations of U.S. Department of Labor safety requirements at three worksites in North Jersey.


Florida man pleads guilty to stealing checks from churches' mailboxes

A Florida man has admitted to stealing checks from church mailboxes in Missouri and Illinois.


Arizona man sentenced for attempted transportation of minor for illegal activities

Robert Frenchie McGriff, aged 44, received a 10-year prison sentence for attempting to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.


Groups urge stronger safeguards in Colorado's proposed AI legislation

Companies in Colorado are increasingly relying on AI-driven decision systems to make important decisions affecting the lives and careers of residents, often without their knowledge.


Former MPD officer sentenced to over seven years for child sexual abuse

Lucius Kearney, a 52-year-old former officer of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 90 months in prison for sexually abusing a minor.


Arizona woman sentenced for drug trafficking and money laundering

Yvette Porras-Ochoa, a 42-year-old resident of Wittmann, Arizona, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan.


Louisville man sentenced for illegal possession of firearm and machinegun

A Louisville man has been sentenced to over seven years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and a machine gun.


FTC issues over $540K in refunds after deceptive debt collection practices

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $540,000 in refunds to consumers who were victims of an abusive debt collection scheme.


Small business optimism rises sharply according to latest NFIB index

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released its latest Small Business Optimism Index, revealing a significant rise in confidence among small business owners.


Florida man arrested for assault on law enforcement during Jan. 6 Capitol breach

A Florida resident, George Gonzalez, has been taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol.


Samuel Rappylee Bateman sentenced to 50 years for leading child abuse ring

Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 48, from Colorado City, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison followed by lifetime supervised release.


USDA announces $1.13 billion funding boost for local food systems

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a $1.13 billion investment aimed at bolstering local and regional food systems.


Wagoner County resident pleads guilty to distributing child exploitation material

Sovana Xiong, a 32-year-old resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to distributing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.


Telemarketer sentenced for defrauding political donors through misleading calls

Richard Zeitlin, owner of a telemarketing call center business, has been sentenced to 121 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme to defraud donors of political action committees (PACs).


Laredo professor faces charges over alleged production of child pornography

A Laredo resident has been charged with producing and distributing videos involving the sexual exploitation of minors, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Convicted felon sentenced for false firearm purchase attempt

Jason Harris, a 43-year-old resident of Palm Coast, has been sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison.


Des Moines man receives lengthy sentence for distributing fatal fentanyl

A Des Moines man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl.


Shelby County man sentenced for theft of veterans' disability benefits

A Shelbyville resident, Jeremy Wayne Harrell, 43, has been sentenced to six months in prison for theft of government benefits.


Micron receives $6B from Commerce Department for DRAM projects

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a significant award from the U.S. Department of Commerce to Micron Technology, amounting to up to $6.165 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS Incentives Program.


Nevada man sentenced for illegal waste dumping; faces fines and prison time

A Nevada man has been sentenced for illegal waste disposal into a city's wastewater system and providing false information to investigators.